Trouble creating win 98 bootable recovery cd

Thought that other thread was getting a bit deep.

Followed this technique to the letter but it didn't work. Easy CD recorder puts these two files bootcat.bin and bootimg.bin, and I copied the system recovery to a directory called tools.
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=10700681

and http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=10818064&pgno=3

Then it dawned on me, that this laptop has an old recovery disk in win95---stuck it into the cd drive of the broke laptop--fired right up, worked perfect, just wrong windows version. Decided to look at the file structure.

Multiple directories and these files are on the root:
bootcat.bin
bootsect.bin
images.tab
lfs.txt (with computer name in text Compaq is all the text file contains)

So----what's my problem? Cyn

BTW, If you all want to move this back to the other thread, that's fine too

 

I was wondering where those .bin files etc. were coming from.

Am I correct in assuming that they are Compaq files ?

I have NEVER seen them.

If the case is indeed true that you are dealing with Compaq it is VERY unlikely that you can do things the way we do with Home built or other machines.

I am not intending to say this is true but it is a possibility.

BillyBob

 

Actually, easy cd recorder makes bootcat.bin and bootimg.bin to represent the floppy image with the startup disk.

What I want to know is what is that .tab file? Cyn

 

BTW, BB, those files have nothing to do with Compaq specifically. I found an interesting tool that's shareware, UltraISO, search for it, I was able to open up the bootsector.bin and could see all the files inclued in the image. I sure hope we can get this for all of us. Cyn

 

I really don't know what the images.tab file is but if it's on the compac recovery disc I'd guess it's probably an image file of the original hardrive, programs etc. Can't say for sure. Have you tried making your own boot disk the way I described in my previous post. If so, would your computer boot from the floppy? If it did boot from the floppy did you try using Easy CD Creator again to burn a cd using that floppy disk? If so, what happened? Somehow I think something is being missed here. Your win95 recovery disk (if it's a cd) is of no use to you for this. You have to have a bootable floppy. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you here but it just doesn't seem that we're (or at least I'm not) getting the whole picture here. It doesn't seem likely that both Nero and Easy CD Creator would fail to create the disk for you unless there's something wrong with the burner or else maybe there's something you're not doing quite right. Does the burner work fine otherwise? I would urge you to try creating a bootdisk yourself in the way I described and then try to use that to make the cd. In my opinion that would be the easiest route and most fool proof. If your using image files off the internet perhaps your not copying them to the floppy in the proper manner or some such thing. If you create your own there's nothing to do but let windows make it. If it works then you can get on to the next step of adding additional files etc. if that's what you desire. It'll take an additional cd or two to experiment this way but you will eliminate a lot of variables if you just use a plain win98 boot disk to begin with.

 

Ditto. And I agree. Something is missing.

All I can really say it that the files we are being shown are not from a Windows startup disk unless something that I am not aware of has changed.

I am seriously thinking that those file are made for a certain machine. I have had all versions of Windows and I have not seen a .bin file on a SUD yet.

Multiple directories and these files are on the root:
bootcat.bin
bootsect.bin
images.tab
lfs.txt (with computer name in text Compaq is all the text file contains

1-There are no multiple directories on a Win98 Startup Disk.
2-There are no .BIN files on a 98 SUD.
3--There are no image.tab files on a 98 SUD.
4--If those files do not have something to do with a Specific Computer then why does it show a Computer name in the .txt. file ?
5-If the files do not have anything to do with Compaq then why does the word Comqay appear in the .txt file.

Having no further ideas at this time Zander may have the right idea. Make a SUD from within Windows and use it to make the bootable CD. And make sure the CD uses the FLOPPY to make a copy of.

BillyBob

 

OK, I'm taking the system files elsewhere to burn them and see what happens, thanks Cyn

 

I just noticed something here that I did not seem to see before.and raises more questions.

Or more thoughts. Or a tremenoligy problems Your choice.

Windows 98 itself does not have such a thing. ( I don't think )

A recovery CD has all the hardware info, drivers and such on it for a specific machine. ( I believe it does anyway )

The 98 SUD is not a recovery disk. It only boots the machines and that is it. It recovers nothing. And neither does the install CD. It does not recover. It builds new.

It may have a bootable ( full version only I think ) but it is not recovery CD.

I believe what is known as a recovery CD comes from an OEM maker. And I believe they are made for one Make/Model of machine ONLY. With NO changes to it.

And that may explain the .BIN and .IMG files.

And it may not be possible to duplicated them.

lfs.txt (with computer name in text Compaq is all the text file contains

I really do think that means something.

BillyBob

 

Pete, Zander, and BillyBob, I GUESS ISO doesn't like rewritable cds or my burner---have no clue, but I got reg. cdr cds. Someone earlier mentioned using the rw format and it sounded good not to have a bunch of unbootable booboos.

Can you get USB support for dos? Just it would be nicer to be able to attach the usb keyboard

 

http://www.phoenix.com/resources/wp-bootcd.pdf

files from phoenix bios i believe

 

PeteC

I agree with you. But look at the Title of this thread an the other and think about it.

I have strong feeling that cynindesign is not refering to a Startup Disk.

And the various files that have been mentioned I believe agrees.

The files mentioned are no part of a what we know as the Windows startup disk

The files mentioned may also be part of some Boot Loader program.

They sure as heck ain't part of the Windows 98 Startup Disk. At least I have never seen them.

BillyBob

 

I 100% agree.

Since A:\ drive is broke and I can set up the bootup priority vs cd rom

Oh Good Grief. Maybe this thread is not wasted yet.

It it possible that this is the root of all evil here.

Unless I am completely wrong.

To create a bootable Startup CD it REQUIRES a 98 SUD in a WORKING Floppy drive.

As Far as I know the CD EMULATES the floppy. Making it look like a 1.4 floppy drive. And if the floppy is not there HHHMMMM !!.

I just saw that when running a test on my 98 SUD CD.

I must have missed that or I would have questioned it a long time ago.

BillyBob

 

I've said in the past I'm working on another laptop seeking to recover from corrupt system files on another laptop that I have current work and hope to recover. So recovery is NOT a red herring.

The laptop I HOPE to recover does NOT have and A:\ drive and the KEYBOARD has been damaged by a spill sometime ago so without USB support there is no "o, p, l, and even more crippling the \" . The laptop I'm using now is incredibly slower. Although it was in my mind for a disaster plan since the keyboard and floppy problem, but I stuck my head in the sand and I didn't make one.

So to create a RECOVERY CD is important so I can get cd support in dos to either reinstall windows or reformat the hard drive. I WAS able to put the system files in THIS laptop's floppy and created the floppy image.

And I said earlier, that I had gotten re-writable cds as someone suggested early in the thread and for some reason ISO wasn't working with it. So NOW I've got the recovery cd created and now looking dos USB support or could create a batch on c: drive to run setup from d: drive.

It's not enough to have computer troubles, but my cable company is having trouble too, and not being able to get on from morning until now, I see those posts....well frankly, I'm not not sure.

We all know when your brain is being fried by unresolved problems, the desperation makes one seem like an idiot. If I had the funds, I would have bought something else, but I'm having to use what I have. I appreciate the help you all have offered, I won't bother you all any more, I guess in my desperation, I didn't realize I was crossing a line anywhere, and I'm sorry for it, Cyn

 

Here here is my summary of the situation. Trying to tie three (3) posts together.

YES. YES, we are running into a problem with the deffintion of a Recovery Disk.

Since M$ decided that it was against their interests to allow all new PC's to be supplied with a copy of Windows manufacturers now supply a Recovery disk which reformats the drive and reinstalls a mirror of what was on the PC when supplied - the format is generally by default and not an option.

That is also my thinking, A recovery CD would be bootable and then do the job that PeteC discribes.

So to create a RECOVERY CD is important so I can get cd support in dos to either reinstall windows or reformat the hard drive. I WAS able to put the system files in THIS laptop's floppy and created the floppy image.

To me this says the party already has a Win98 Srartup Disk on a bootable CD. Does it boot the machine ? I do not know. With way I understand the keyboard problem I do wonder because of the fact that some keys may be stuck. Which may prevent it from booting. I know my PC would not boot with a book resting on the Spacebar.

Now the party is asking about USB for DOS. There is no way to get same on the effected machine WITHOUT a usable keyboard. the drivers for USB would have to be added to the bootable CD from THE OTHER MACHINE. And I believe the use of keyboard on the effected unit would STILL be needed.

BUT on the other hand. It may depend on the version of 98 but it just MIGHT pick up a USB keyboard and run with it. But you would need the Win98 CD I believe. Or at least have the driver on a CD Which could be created on the other machine.

I do not even believe that a format could be done because the "O" key does not work. ( at least not by having to type it ) Answering Y/N from a recovery CD might.

Now I understand that the PS2 port is also damaged so that a keyboard cannot be plugged into it. That is another question in my mind now. Is there possible INTERNAL damage there ?

cynindesign

A question that should have been asked ages ago.

Didn't a Recovery CD come with that Laptop ?

BillyBob

 

1. Yes I was able to create a bootup cd.

2. But once I've booted up, I realized the delima in dos, no "\ ", "p ", or "p ", BillyBob, you have got it correct.

3. Pete, did I understand you correctly? You have a WIN98 1st edition and would create the bootup image?

4.Well I thought along those lines, created the floppy image, then I found that the startup.exe file cannot reside on the root, but must be in a folder. So even if I renamed format to "frmat" and startup to "startu" I still faced having to change into the folder with the "\ ".

5.So that's why looking for dos usb support for a keyboard. I'm just looking at some Japanese files for this.

6.The OTHER thing that would work, I could create a batch file on this computer that I could run from c: drive. As I've said, I have ezgig pmcia card that connects laptop hard drives. For some reason there have been only 2 times I've been able to connect the affected hd, the othe times, it just squeals—litterally so I immediately disconnect.

7. Just a minute. I can enter dos and use the edit screens ->open files that have the required characters in it, use the screens copy menu then paste into the old batch command to
nun d:\tools\setup.exe that would work wouldn't it?

8.Have tried to copy the win98 install cd yesterday with the boot image, but ran into problems with it hanging up. Would it help since this system only has 48mgs of ram--to transfer the 128mgs of ram from the affected system first--or does MS have something embedded in the install disk that disallows copying?

I'm sorry that this problem seems like a whinning never ending story----just thought with some creative reasoning, the problem could be resolved.....WAIT A MINUTE, DUH!!!! Since I can boot up with cd support on the affected laptop, I will go and create the batch file on c:\ drive to either run d:\setup and create another batch to get to the format on the bootup cd I've created. And, duh, switch to the win installation disk if needed. I'm off to try that, I REALLY appreciate you all and this forum and am in your debt, hopefully, the only further posts you'll see from me is helping someone else ,Cyn

 

WE ARE gaining

Now you have the correct idea about creating something on the other machine and getting it noto a CD.

BUT. Not having the proper keys "\" to switch folders or run commands DO NOT create subfolder on the CD.

For example: do not make a folder such Tools and then but stuff in it. You would not get there.

I have a feeling you know what I am refering too.

BillyBob